Unitarian Church of Montreal

Children get a sense of belonging

We light the flame of religious education
to learn with open minds
to teach with helping hands
and loving hearts

 

Children are cherished members of our religious community. The goal of our all-embracing religious education program (RE) is to provide children and youth with experiences that promote their spiritual growth and intellectual curiosity. Led by dedicated teachers, under the direction of Caroline Balderston Parry, RE classes nurture each child, while fostering friendships, ethical concerns, and a sense of belonging to one other, to our church community, and to the world outside our walls. To download a calendar of events, click here Download 2012 calendar

UCM Children Sing Jack's Dream: Nov. 13, 2011

If you would like to hear the children singing the chalice lighting song fromthe Nov. 13 service, click here.

We will pull out the new bells for the December song.  Please come to practice on both Sunday, Dec. 4 and Sunday, Dec. 11 at 10 am.  We will sing/play the chalice lighting at the service on Dec 11. Unfortunately, children who do not practice with the bells will not be able to play them.  It is very important to have practiced players...

If any parents have any feedback from the children about this program please let Shawn Dohring know.

Thanks for participating!

Helping your children find spiritual guidance outside an iPod

Religious Education:  Registration for the new year begins Sunday, Sept. 11 and continues until Sunday, Oct. 10.
Classes begin Sunday, Sept. 18.  Following the 'Time for All Ages' on Sept. 11, there will be an all-ages children's "homecoming" program in the Chapel. The nursery will be staffed and available for children too young to participate. The Youth Group will get together separately.
Anyone interested in volunteering for RE, please save Saturday, Sept. 17, for teacher development and Spirit Play workshop day.    

Children's Music Program

The Children’s Music Program is about the joy of music for 6- to 10-year-olds. We have frequent short songs for the children to play/sing, for chalice lightings, time of all ages, and other occasions. 

The children's choir program sessions will start again in October and run through June. Practice will start at 10 am sharp, the first and second Sunday of the month, and finish at 10:25, in time to go to the Sanctuary for "Time for All Ages." Please check the Week at a Glance updates and have your children wear nametags.
Call Shawn Dohring for more details: 514-461-1388 or email him.

We had a very nice group of singers for the Thanksgiving service: Amanda, Annie, Catherine, Elise, Elizabeth, Gloria, Hannah, Jia &  Stephanie. Thank you, everyone, for participating, including Dr. Bob Barnes for helping direct….
You can view a YouTube video of your performance by clicking here.
Feel free to join our our next practice, Sunday Nov. 6 at 10 am.

Steady Attendance Makes a Real Difference

Come join this community regularly!  We hope to see you and your child/ren here often at the Unitarian Church of Montreal.  And let us know how we can further support your family.

Spirit Play helps children connect with inner self

What is Spirit Play? The May 2009 Spirit Play training session and conference gave our church 15 educators trained in this exciting new approach to religious education. Adapted from the Montessori school model and Jerome Berryman's Godly Play, Spirit Play helps children slow down and listen to their inner selves. (For more on Spirit Play, see below.)

Each week when there are separate classes, all the Spirit Play children will gather together briefly outside the Garden Room on the Nursery level. The storytellers and doorkeepers for the day are introduced, then the Primers' group goes to its room. Parents, please pick up Garden Room children promptly at 12; Primers will also be dismissed at that time unless you request another arrangement.

The day's leaders will check on nametags, footwear, and general readiness, perhaps telling a centering movement story.

NOTE:  If parents can have their children change from outdoor shoes/boots to slippers, and put their name tags on before the service upstairs begins, it will help our programs flow more smoothly.

Come Play With Us!

Melani Litwack runs the playgroup, which meets twice a week, and is a much-needed outing for new parents as well as those with more experience - we all need some adult interaction during our busy days! She took some time to tell us more about this vital service in our church.

Our Whole Lives for Younger Children

Our Whole Lives (OWL) is the Unitarian Universalist Association's sexuality education for different age groups. It equips participants with accurate, age-appropriate information in six inter-related subject areas such as human development and relationships.

In February-March, 2009, we held an after-service program for parents and Kindergarten to Grade 2 children. We hope to hold a similar after-service program for children in Grades 5 and 6 in February-March 2010. For more information, contact dre@ucmtl.ca